Melton Horseball Club launch Champions League appeal

A Melton equestrian team is appealing for help to send them to France to represent Great Britain in the Champions League.

Melton Horseball Club have been among England’s leading sides in the sport for the last decade and qualified for the FIHB elite competition after winning the British Horseball Association (BHA) Open Championship.

Melton's Kev Burton (left) and jamie Gibson helped GB's men to their best World Cup finish EMN-160909-165356002

The event, which is staged in Le Mans from October 7 to 9, will see them take on the cream of Europe including the champions of France, Spain, Portugal, Italy and Belgium.

The trip will cost about £5,000 and Melton HC has set up a gofundme page www.gofundme.com/meltonhorseball to help them reach their target.

Last year Melton finished second in BHA Division One and this season they are currently sitting top with two games left to play on the weekend of September 24 and 25 at Onley Grounds Polo Club, in Rugby.

Their final game is expected to be the title decider versus North London.

The British men's team including Kev Burton (left) and Jamie Gibson (fourth from left) EMN-160909-165329002

The club also enjoyed success in the inaugural BHA Ladies’ Championship in May, finishing as runners-up to Derby Ladies.

While Derby will compete in the Ladies Champions League, Melton earned a place in the Pro-elite Champions League.

Horseball is a game played on horseback where a ball is handled and points are scored by shooting it through a high net.

The sport is described as a combination of polo, rugby and basketball.

Melton boast a host of internationals with Jamie and Abbie Gibson and Kevin Burton having just returned from representing Team GB at the FIHB World Cup in Ponte de Lima, Portugal.

Jamie and Kevin helped the pro-elite (men’s) team to their highest-ever World Cup placing of sixth, while Abbie and the British ladies finished seventh in the first ladies’ world cup.

The club managed to raise £15,000 to send the three to the World Cup last month.

For more details about the Club, see their Facebook page (meltonhorseball) and follow them on Twitter @meltonhorseball